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Four contracts approved to develop vaccine that fights bioterrorism

Emergency Management Alert, October 15, 2004

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced four contracts last week to develop new vaccines again smallpox, plague, and tularemia. The contracts total $232 million and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will administer them.

"We are moving as quickly as possible to develop new vaccines to ensure that our nation is protected against an array of potential bioterror agents," said HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson. "These new contracts are the next steps in our plans to build a robust stockpile of critical medical countermeasures and supplies, so we are even more prepared to respond to a biological attack or outbreak."

These contracts will support larger scale manufacturing of the vaccines as well as further safety and effectiveness studies in animals and humans. The tularemia and plague awards will fund early-stage product development of the respective vaccines, which will include dosage formulation, pilot batch production, and initial clinical assessment.

All four contracts are for purchases of vaccine lots intended for research use. Any future purchases of additional vaccines for stockpiling in the event of an emergency will depend on the results of the research currently underway.

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